Anakin didn’t care about Clone lives?

thinkingheron:

(Related to this post by padawanlost. I’m putting it separately because the best points were already made in that thread and I’m just compiling things here and I’m shy.)

A while ago I read some people’s analysis on how Anakin (and Ahsoka and Obi-Wan too, apparently) did not care about clone lives based on The Clone Wars series.

Okay, fine, people can have opinions. Let’s look at the details.

They accuse that Anakin:

• risked clone lives during Malevolence run just to hog all glory.
• risked clone lives just to get R2 back. (okay this one got me)
• (with Ahsoka) threw Rex off the wall in Second Geonosis.
• (with Obi-Wan) did not save that one clone who lost his grip and fell from the cliff in Citadel arc.
• did not check if Echo was really dead or show any sad emotions for it.
• (with Obi-Wan) never gives dead clones their due while taking time for an impromptu funeral for Jedi Master Piel in Citadel arc. (because clearly they are the only ones with that problem)
• did not do for Fives in Order 66 arc as much as he did for Ahsoka.

All right, fine. I could refute at least half of the above list, but that might get subjective real fast.

Still, probably don’t forget the times Anakin:

• wanted to help Rex in Teth battle on the risk of failing the mission.
• staged a rescue mission after being told not to in Malevolence arc because “lives are at stake.”
• helped a weakened Wolffe (I think that was Wolffe?) get out of the broken pod (and get the med droid to tend to them)
• changed courses in Malevolence run when someone gave a better option.
• from the same episode, “I also can’t take the lives I lost lightly.”
• got himself blown up after getting everyone (including clones who are not under his command) to safety in Jedi Crash.
• charged ahead solo to take out the defoliator on his own despite above injuries.
• tells Rex to stand down and not risk unnecessary conflict with the Talz in Tresspass.
• paused mid battle to save Denal from falling to his death. (and then letting him down gently while running after Ahsoka)
• was visibly relieved to see Red Eye (apparently) okay in Voyage of Temptation.
• yelled “Get behind me!” when facing spider assassin droids because he’s better equipped than the clones to handle them.
• immediately went to help Rex and Cody from above mentioned spider droids.
• (with Ahsoka) is shown trying to help injured clones after a bomb unexpectedly blew up nearby on Zygerria arc.
• on multiple occasions is shown to be the last one boarding the evacuating gunship.
• showed visible sadness when Commander Ponds was executed by Boba’s gang.
• gets comatose Tup out of the Separatist clutches in Order 66 arc.
• The Bad Batch arc is about him getting Echo back.

Bonus from the movie: Anakin wanted to help the clone pilots during the battle over Coruscant in RotS, even though the mission is to rescue the Chancellor.

So I don’t know, the evidence *clearly* stacks against him. /sarcasm

And sure Jedi such as Mace Windu and Yoda *clearly* cared more than our main trio because of That One Time Yoda gave clones pep talk and That One Time Mace helped his men during his limelight episode. /double sarcasm

TCW isn’t entirely consistent with their characterizations, especially if it involves Rule of Funny or Rule of Cool. (Geonosis one is definitely a case of Rule of Funny in my opinion) In fact, all visual media does that now and then. Still, there is an overall trend on how clones are treated by Jedi.

For the record, I do not think Mace and Yoda ever intentionally ‘not care’ or abuse clones. I do not believe any Jedi (aside from those like Krell) would do that. But the problem is that we see more (arguably) conflicting evidence for Anakin, Ahsoka, Obi-Wan and not for Mace and Yoda, because we see Anakin, Ahsoka, Obi-Wan more. There isn’t enough *statistical power* to make a good comparison between two groups.

Also for those who accuse of Ahsoka not hesitating to kill clones who were brainwashed by Geonosis bug to kill her and Barriss… Yoda didn’t bat an eye before beheading clones that crept up to him during Order 66 either but no one talks about that for some reason.